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Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass are not native to Utah but have become well-established through extensive stocking programs, now found in waterbodies throughout the state.

Scientific Name: Micropterus salmoides

Physical Characteristics:
  • In Utah waters, they exhibit the classic largemouth characteristics - elongate bodies ranging from silvery-white to brassy-green with dark olive mottling on the dorsal surface and a broad black stripe along the sides.
  • Their large mouth extends past the eye in adults, distinguishing them from smallmouth bass.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • These warmwater fish prefer vegetative cover and are found in lakes, reservoirs, ponds, and slower river sections throughout Utah.

Key Locations

  • Sand Hollow and Gunlock Reservoirs (Washington County), Lake Powell (southern Utah), Pelican Lake, Quail Creek Reservoir, Utah Lake, Starvation Reservoir, Pineview Reservoir, and numerous other waters statewide.

Specific Spots

  • They inhabit shallow areas with structure like logs, docks, vegetation, and rocky cover, moving to deeper water during hot summer months.
  • Target vegetative cover, fallen trees, docks, rocky shorelines, and drop-offs adjacent to shallow areas.
  • Fish structure-rich areas.

Largemouth Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Largemouth Bass in Utah?

Plastic lures in natural colors (browns, blacks with colorful flecks) in clear water, and brightly colored lures in turbid conditions. Effective lures include in-line spinners (small ones), spoons, curly tailed grubs with jig heads, crankbaits, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, and swimbaits.

What flies work for Largemouth Bass in Utah?

Productive patterns include Clouser Minnows (chartreuse/white, pink/white), crawfish imitations like Cohen's Jiggy Craw, leeches, shad patterns, diving bugs, and topwater poppers in bumblebee, frog, and chartreuse patterns.

When is the best time to fish for Largemouth Bass in Utah?

Prime largemouth bass fishing in Utah occurs April through June and September through October when water temperatures are optimal. Target early spring (mid-March to mid-April). Avoid the actual spawning period (mid-April in southern Utah, late May-early June in northern areas) when fish are on beds.

How do you catch Largemouth Bass in Utah?

Use swimbaits and drop-shot rigs worked slowly in early spring. Fish topwater patterns during low-light periods in spring and fall, switching to subsurface flies as conditions dictate. Focus on transitions between deep and shallow water.

What do Largemouth Bass eat?

Utah's largemouth bass are voracious predators with an expansive diet including baitfish (especially shad and bluegill), crayfish, frogs, insects, snakes, small mammals, and even each other.

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